SUIT BLAMES NURSING HOME
IN WOMAN'S DEATH IN 1992

WILKES-BARRE -- The executors of the estate of a woman who died after
living more than a year at Valley Crest Nursing Home are suing the facility,
blaming the woman's deteriorating condition before her death on shoddy and
negligent care at the home.
Mary Ondich of Bear Creek Township died in February 1992 after both her
kidneys began to fail. Ondich took up residence at the facility after suffering partial paralysis
in May 1989. She was 72 years old at the time and also suffered from diabetes,
recurring urinary tract infections, severe bed sores, cataracts and several
other ailments.
According to the suit filed Thursday in Luzerne County Court, Ondich
developed chronic kidney problems in her one working organ after the nursing
home and her physician, Dr. Philip Seroska, failed to correctly diagnose and
treat a urinary tract infection. One of her kidneys had already failed.
The suit alleges that Ondich was kept in the nursing home and not given
antibiotics for more than a week after the infection set in. Ondich died about
a year later.
The suit, brought by John M. Ondich and Lorraine Hreha, also names Luzerne
County and County Commissioners Jim Phillips, Rose Tucker and Frank Crossin as
defendants.
Ondich and Hreha are seeking more than $20,000 in damages.
Valley Crest officials couldn't be reached late Thursday afternoon.
Nanticoke man is sentenced
WILKES-BARRE -- Kirk Randler of Nanticoke is expected to spend at least 1
years in state prison on charges of criminal conspiracy, criminal attempt and
possession of an instrument of crime.
On Thursday, Luzerne County Judge Joseph Augello sentenced Randler to a
minimum of 18 months on the charges. He could spend up to 10 years in prison.
Randler, 25, originally was charged with burglary, stemming from an
incident that happened earlier this year.